Invalid chair



Dec. 14, 1937. M, E. ROE 2,02,336

INVALID CHAIR Filed oct. 9, 193e Vsheets-sheet 1 if," MAYO EROE,

13 F IG. 3 /3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Filed Oct. 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAYO EROE 3 5'0 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES INVALID CHAIR Mayo E. Roe, Elyria, Ohio, assigner to The Colson Corporation, Elyria, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application october 9, 1936, serial No. 104.863

40am-ns. (011155-305 This invention relates to invalid chairs.

It is among the objects of the invention:v To provide' an improved construction of invalid chair.

To provide an improved frame construction for invalid chairs and the like.

Toprovide'an invalid chair having improvedv means to adjust the inclination of the chair back.

To provide in an invalid chair of the type com- 10 prising leg rests improved means'for adjustably positioning the same.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the follow- I5 ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a modification of the invention, one of the wheels being omitted for the sake of clearness, .lo Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view to an enlarged scale of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with parts broken away,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken from the plane 3-3 of Fig. l,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken from the plane d-Aof Fig. l, Y

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View to an enlarged scale of a portion of Fig,V 1,

Fig. 6 is a view looking toward the left of the f, lower portion of Fig. 5, Y Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken from the plane 1 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a part ofY Fig. l illustrating partly in section and partly in elevation the subject matter of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. '7 illustrating a modification of the parts of that figure in the position which they occupy on the other side of the embodiment of Fig. 1,

40 Fig. 10 is aview partly in section and partly in elevation of the subject matter of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken Y from the plane lI-I l of 1 and drawn to a larger scale.

.45 Referring to the drawings, I have shown at I-I main frame members preferably formed from tubing and' comprising a forwardly and rearwardly extending generally horizontal portion 2 which in the forward portion of thev chair 50 is bent, on a large radius of curvature upwardly and forwardly in a forward portion 3 which in the upper portions thereof is bent rearwardly onla still larger radius of curvature, providing an upper portion 4, and thence is bent curvi- 55 linearly rearwardly and downwardly, providing a.

rear portion 5 the lower end of which ls substantially vertical as at 6; and the rear end of the horizontal portion2 is secured to the portion 5 preferably by welding, this part of the frame being preferably made from a single piece 5Y of tubing.

SmallV rear` wheelsV mounted in caster forks 8-8 have oastering bearings 9-9 on the lower ends of the vertical portions of the frame.

The horizontal portions 2 of the frame are 1.0 connected by transverse frame members IB and ll in the rearward and forward portions thereof respectively, these frame members preferably also being formed from tubing-and welded at their ends to the frame member portion 2, the L5 frame member lll being abutted at its opposite ends upon the frame portion 2 at the weld thereof and the frame member lH engaging the portion 2 on the underside thereof, as shown respectively in Figs. Y2 and 3. 20

Main or front wheels I2, havingY preferably ball bearing hub structures I3-I3 are rotatably mounted on the end portions of the transverse member I l outwardly laterally of the frame portions 2-2 as shown in Figs. l and 3. 25

At I4 is a seat which may be of any suitable construction such as that well known comprising a frame of wood or the like with a central portion upholstered or woven from cane. The seat-has four blocks of metal l5-I5 secured to the underside thereof, and sheet vmetal supports lli-1 6 are welded at their lowery ends to the frame portions 2--2 and at their upper ends are bent to provide flanges Il--Il which are secured to the pieces liv-I5, whereby the seat is rigidly 35 mounted upon and secured to Vthe frame portions 2 2.

VA` strip of metal 8l is securedvto the underside ofthe seat I4 at the rearward portion thereof asshown in Figs. 1 and2 and terminates in ears 40 Il Vbent upwardly and laterally spaced from theV edge of the seat.

y.A chair back I9 is provided which may be of any suitable construction such as that suitable for chairs of this kind and may comprise a frame of wood or the like with a cane or upholstered central portion. In the form illustrated the. back. comprises side upright pieces 20--20 which at their lower end portions have mounted' thereon channels 2I--2l. 'IhelowerY ends of the channels have the channel webs thereof disposed between the above described ears I8-|8 and the side vedge of the seat i4, and the back is hinged to the seat by hinge'pintles 22-22 55 23 and have upwardly extending ears 26-26 spaced laterally from the ears'24-24.

A frame member 21 is provided one on each` side of the chair formed from bent tubing comprising a loop 28, one side of the loop extending rearwardly in a horizontal portion 29 and terminating rearwardly at 30 adjacent the back I9 and the other side of the loop being bent upward as at 3l and abutting upon and welded to the horizontal portion 29. At the intermediate por-l tion of the loop, the tubing is flatted as'at 32 andV disposed between the above described ears 24 and 26 and hinged thereto by a pintle 86 extendingthrough aligned perforations in the'ears and in the flattened portion 32 of the tubing.

A sheet metal housing 33 U-shape in cross section as shown in Fig..11.is disposed under the horizontal portion 29 of thefrarne member 21 being'welded thereto `and preferably also to the loop portion 3I of the framemember. An elongated fiat tubular housing is thus provided in which a bar 34 reciprocably slides or is telescoped, one end of the bar projecting outwardly 'from the housing 33 and pivotally connected as at 35 to the channel Ymember 2I on the back I9. The bar is adapted to be locked in Aadjusted positions longitudinally in the housing 33 to variably adjustably incline the back I9. As the back I9 pivots around the hinge connection at its'lower end above described to adjust it, the frame member 21 of which the bar 34 is a part, pivotsY on the backat 35 and also pivots on the seat I4 at 86.

To adjustably position the bar 34 to vary the inclination of the back I9, the following means is provided. A bolt 36 is projected through the housing 33 having its head on the inner side thereof. The bar 34 has a longitudinal slot 38 therein through which the bolt 36 extends. The edges of the slot 38 are provided with pairs of opposite recesses 39-39. Alever V4I! havingV a handle 4I is disposed on .the other side of the housing`33, the bolt 36 projecting therethrough, the bolt having a compression spring 42 thereon outwardly of which a nut 43 is provided whereby the spring 42 may hold the lever 48 against the housing. The lever has a tongue 44 projecting inwardly and adapted to be lodged Vin the slot 38 and in a pair of voppo site recesses 39-39. By this means the tongue 44 normally locks the bar 34 against longitudinal movement. Upon depressing the handle 4I however, the tongue 44 will be withdrawn and then the. bar 34 may be moved longitudinally to another position whereat Ythe tongue 44Wwill snap intoV locking position to lock the bar to the housing.

As a modification, the form, of locking device illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 may be utilizedrand in some cases it may be preferred to utilize the form above described on one side, say the left side of the chair and the form now to be described in connection with Figs, 9 and 10 on the opposite side of the chair and in this latter position it will be described. A bar 34-a is provided similar tofand for the same purposes as the bar 34 and has a slot 38-a therein but instead of having the notches 39-39 has teeth 45-45 on opposite sides of the slot 38--a and aligned with each other. A clip device 46 is provided having teeth on its underside which may intermesh with the teeth 45,-45 and has a prong 41 projecting into the slot 38-a. A bolt 48 is projected through lthe inner side of the housing and locked by a pin 31 to prevent rotation, and through the slot 38-a and through a perforation in the device 46, and outwardly thereof has a hand wheel nut 49.

By'loosening the nut 49, the device 46 may kbe withdrawn from the tooth meshed engage-- ment with the bar 34-a andthen the bar may be adjusted longitudinally to adjust the chair back. By turning the hand nut 49 the` device 46 will interlock with the bar 34-a and secure them both to the bolt 48 and therefore to the housing 33.

Arm restsp'referably of wood 50 may be provided on `the upper side of the frame I, and the frame I therefore is bent, in the portion 4 thereof to a suitable height. the frame I', are disposed adjacent the outside of Vthe knees of a patient vsitting on the seat I4 whereby he is guarded from the'spokes of the wheel I2.

The abovev described metal strips 25-25 secured to the underside of the seat I4 have bent portions thereof I+5I spaced below the seatV I4 and with their ends generally parallel thereto. `A strip of metal 88 is secured upon the under sideY of the seat to the strip 23 by posts 52-52 and has end portions 89-89 extending laterally beyond the posts 52-52. A pair of rectangular loops 53-53 are thus provided in the forward portion'under the seat by the strip 23, and end. portions 5I and 89, and posts 52. A similar pair of loops 54--54 are provided in the rearward portion of the seat by a strip 90 on the underside of the seat; a pair of Z-form pieces secured to the seat, strip 90 and having ends 55-55 spaced from the strip 99; a strip 9| secured to the strip 90 by posts 56--56 and having ends 92-92 extending laterally beyond the posts.

Rectangular board pieces 51-51 reciprocate in the loops 53 and 54 and function as supports for leg and feet rests to be described. By simply reciprocating the boards in their loops the leg rests may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly or maybe entirely withdrawn to remove the leg rests from the chair. g To the forward ends of the supports 51-51 are hinged depending leg rests 58-58 by a hinge 59. The leg rests 58 may be suitably upholstered or may comprisepframes of wood or the like with cane or upholstering in the central portions thereof.

A sector 60 of sheet metal is bolted by means of a flange 6I thereof to the under side of the support 51 and has teeth 6I disposed infan arc concentric with the hinge 59.

A U-shape bracket 62 is secured by feet 63--63 thereof to the leg rest 58 on theunder or inner side thereof. A shaft 64 extends through aligned perforations in the opposite legs of the U-shape 'bracket 62 and has a pawl 65 secured to the lshaft by a set screw 66 within the bracket 62'. A spring 61 surrounding the shafty 64 within 'the bracket 62 is anchored at one end to the shaft and at the other end to the bracket and yieldably holds the pawl 65 toward the teeth`6I. The bracket 62 is braced by a pair of bracesV 68-68 The bent portions 3 of Y extending from the opposite sides of the bracket to the inner side of the leg rest 58.

The outer end of the shaft 64 is bent to provide a crank 9 terminating in a handlerl which is generally parallel to the leg rest 58. By moving the handle l0, the shaft 64 will be rocked to remove the pawl 65 from the teeth of the sector 6i! and the leg rest 58 will fall by gravity to its vertical position; or it may be lifted to an adjusted position from vertical to horizontal or higher; and then by releasing the handle lll the pawl 65 will be engaged with a corresponding tooth and hold the leg rest in that position.

On the lower ends of the leg rests 58-58, feet 'l l--l'l are hingingly mounted as at 12, being stopped by suitable means in the position illustrated wherein they are at right angles to the leg rests B and being hingeable to dispose them upwardly or against the leg rests 58 in which position they are out of the way when the leg rests are themselves disposed vertically whereby the chair may be used independently of the leg rests.

It is one of the advantages of my invention that the several parts thereof which are to be operated are disposed convenient to the hands of an occupant of the chair. The lever handle 4|, or the hand wheel 49, being within reach of the occupants hands, his elbows when reaching these parts extending at each side behind the chair back.V The frame member 2 is bent so that the arm rest 50 will be at a convenient height and so that the portion 3 thereof will be a guard with respect to the wheel as above stated. The handle 1E! of the leg rest adjusting means is so disposed that both it and the edge of the leg rest 58 may be grasped in the hand of the occupant and so that by squeezing them'together the handle 'lll will be moved; and while the handle 1B may be out of sight of the occupant, it is easily found by guiding the hand toward it along the outer edge of the leg rest. At the same time, the adjustment parts are with equal facility operable by a nurse or other attendant.

I claim: Y

l. In an invalid chair, a pair of laterally spaced frame elements comprising tubes each bent to provide a lower generally horizontal forwardly and rearwardly extending portion, an upwardly bent forward portion, an upper rearwardly extending arm rest supporting portion and a rearwardly depending portion, the horizontal portion secured at its rear end to the depending portion, caster wheels on the lower ends of the depending portions, uprights on the horizontal portions, a seat on the uprights, front wheels supporting the frame at the forward portion of the horizontally extending frame elements and transverse bracing elements connecting the said frame elements.

2. In an invalid chair, a transverse frame element, front wheels supporting the transverse frame element, a pair of tubular side frame elements each bent to provide a substantially horizontal forwardly and rearwardly extending portion resting at its forward end upon the said transverse frame element, and curving forwardly and upwardly and then rearwardly therefrom and at its upper portion supporting an arm rest and at its rearward portion curving rearwardly and downwardly to an end below the rearward end of the horizontal portion and secured to the latter and at the said end supported on a castering wheel, a seat supported on the frame elements, the forwardly and upwardly curving portions of the frame elements being disposed between the forward wheels and the legs of a chair occupant sitting on the seat.

3. In an invalid chair, a pair of bar-like laterally spaced frame elements each bent to provide a lower generally forwardly and rearwardly extending portion, an upwardly bent forward portion, a rearwardly extending arm rest supporting portion and a rearwardly depending portion, the forwardly and rearwardly extending portion being secured at its rear end to the depending portion, caster wheels on'the lower end portions of the depending portions, seat supported on the forwardly and rearwardly extending portions, front wheels supporting the frame at forward portions,V and a transverse element bracing the said frame elements.

4. In an invalid chair, a transverse frame element, front wheels supporting the transverse frame element, a pair of bar-like side frame elements each bent to providev a generally forwardly and rearwardly extending portion resting at its forward end portion upon the said transverse frame element, and curving forwardly and upwardly and then rearwardly therefrom and at its upper portion supporting an arm rest, and at its rearward portion curving rearwardlyA and downwardly to an end portion below the rearward end of the forwardly and rearwardly extending portion and secured to the latter, and at the said end portion supported on a castering wheel, a seat supported on the frame elements, the forwardly and upwardly curving portions of the frame elements being disposed between the forward wheels and the legs of a chair occupant sitting o-n the seat. Y

MAYO E. ROE.

GTI 

